Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs

General Summary of Position

The University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell) seeks an accomplished strategic and collaborative leader to serve as its next Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs (Provost). The next Provost will build on UMass Lowells recent momentum and accelerate the universitys evolution by advancing its academic and scholarly mission deepening engagement with the surrounding community and guiding the institution to new levels of achievement and renown.

Located just 30 miles north of Boston and anchored along the Merrimack River in one of Americas most storied innovation hubs UMass Lowell is a dynamic urban public research university that has been named the #1 public university in Massachusetts by The Wall Street Journal. With a mission grounded in access affordability and impact the university has a proud history of providing education to its students in a wide variety of fields and collaborating closely with industry to contribute to the regional economic health. UMass Lowell delivers rigorous academics cutting-edge research and unmatched experiential learning that prepares approximately 16850 students to lead in industry government and public service. The university generates an annual economic impact of $1.2billion throughout the Merrimack Valley region and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

UMass Lowells momentum and achievements in recent years are undeniable. It was named a Research 1 (R1) university by the Carnegie Classification in 2025 affirming its very high research activity and signaling a powerful platform for discovery collaboration and graduate education. UMass Lowell is the highest-rated campus for sustainability in Massachusetts and is one of only eight in the nation to receive the platinum rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). It is a five-time recipient of INSIGHT Into Diversity Magazines Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award and with 48 percent of undergraduates identifying as students of color and 45 percent as firstgeneration college students it is ranked by The Wall Street Journal as the #1 university in Massachusetts for Social Mobility public or private reflecting its commitment to advancing success for students from all backgrounds.

Reporting to the Chancellor the Provost is UMass Lowells chief academic officer and a key member of the universitys executive leadership this capacity the Provost will collaborate closely with vice chancellors deans and vice provosts to build on the universitys recent momentum. They will contribute to the 2028 Strategic Plan by advancing student success and inclusive excellence strengthening masters and doctoral programs to expand scale and interdisciplinary depth and enhancing program distinctiveness partnerships and research impact. Through this work the Provost will help elevate the universitys national and global reputation.

Furthermore the Provost will foster a culture of innovation and collaborationleveraging technology catalyzing cluster hires empowering college and unit leadership and connecting academic strengths to emerging fields and partner industries. And as an anchor institution UMass Lowells deep relationship with the city of Lowell remains central. The Provost will champion community-engaged scholarship experiential learning and initiatives that strengthen the regional economy and civic lifeensuring the campus and city continue to thrive together.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS:

The next Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs at UMass Lowell will be a distinguished educator and scholar who holds an earned doctorate or equivalent terminal degree and brings a record of scholarship research and teaching commensurate with appointment as a tenured full professor. This individual will be a proven leader with extensive academic leadership experience with significant experience in budget stewardship and personnel management. The ideal candidate will exemplify many of the following qualifications and attributes:

Proven ability to be an inspiring leader and collaborative colleague across the university;
Ability to motivate faculty and staff efforts to carry out the universitys mission and to align academic departments ensuring the coherent advancement and sustainability of the university;
A collaborative leadership style that empowers and delegates responsibilities to deans unit heads and other colleagues;
Demonstrated ability to make effective and transparent decisions using data;
Demonstrated experience in conducting the promotion and tenure process;
Evidence of setting priorities within an academic unit seeking input from the bottom up and helping to put in place the systems and structure to fulfill those priorities;
Commitment to the professional development of faculty and staff;
Experience fulfilling a vision for academic and student affairs at a transformational time for an institution;
Proven success of change management;
Broad appreciation for the spectrum of disciplines offered at a comprehensive research institution such as UMass Lowell;
Successful track record in building and sustaining interdisciplinary programs and research;
Vision for the role that academic research libraries play during the transformation of an institution;
Experience with and vision for the role technology plays in the landscape of higher education today and in the future particularly artificial intelligence;
Understanding of and appreciation for the role of experiential learning and applied research within a comprehensive university;
Strong interpersonal and communication skills in both formal and informal environments oral and written;
Demonstrated commitment to enhancing the teaching and learning of a genuinely student-centered institution that supports student success;
Experience with or an appreciation for working cooperatively with faculty and staff in a union environment at a public institution or within a university system;
Successful track record of large-scale budgetary accountability and effectiveness in the allocation of resources; and
Ability to work with other academic and community leaders to further develop collaborative academic and student success initiatives.
Leadership style:
Highest level of integrity and a track record of ethics in leadership;
Sense of humor and commitment to building a positive work environment;
A strong advocate who sets the tone with an effective and wise blending of patience persistence compassion and urgency;
A record of creativity innovative problem-solving bridge-building and consensus-building;
Commitment to transparency;
An outgoing graceful highly energetic participatory and positive demeanor; and
Visible on campus and at campus events and open and accessible to the campus community.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Nominations inquiries and applications including CVs with cover letters responding to the opportunities and challenges outlined in the full position profile should be submitted to the Isaacson Miller search team via the hyperlink below. Screening of applications will begin immediately and continue until the search process is completed.

This is a full-time benefited non-union professional position in grade E8.Compensation will be commensurate with experience with an anticipated salary range based of approximately $390000 to $440000.

Micah Pierce Partner
Alycia Johnson Managing Associate
Berlinda Mojica Senior Associate
Marlyn Desire Senior Search Coordinator

Isaacson Miller